Louise exploded from the car like a shot, her face pale and her eyes wide with terror. I recognized it as full-blown panic mode for her.

The security guard informed her she couldn’t park there, and she responded by firing the keys at him and telling him to keep the car.

I slipped a few bills to the man, asking him to park our vehicles before I entered the emergency room.

Louise screamed at a nurse that she was Eve’s sister to gain admittance to the back.

We were buzzed back, though told we shouldn’t all be heading back to the room, but Louise wasn’t hearing any of it.

I followed her as she raced down the hall, whipping into Eve’s cubicle. My racing heart settled a little as I spotted her alive, awake, and in fairly good shape outside of the swollen ankle.

“Lou?” Eve asked, her features pinched with confusion.

“Eve! My word, are you alright?” Louise asked.

“I’m okay. I’m just a little maimed. But I’m fine,” Eve assured her.

Louise collapsed on the edge of the bed as I shuffled inside next to her sister, who complained that Louise had been threatening her when she’d received the call about Eve being in the hospital.

Eve’s defense of Louise incensed her sister, and before long, Audrey stormed from the room.

Eve collapsed back against her pillow as I skirted around the bed to stand on the opposite side. “I hate to say it, but I’m sort of glad she’s leaving.”

Louise grinned at her. “I’m so glad you’re not mad at me. I did tell her to stay away from you. But only because she’s so awful to you.”

“I know,” Eve answered. “And my painkillers haven’t kicked in yet, so tolerating her is difficult.”

Louise stared down at the angry bruise on Eve’s ankle. “Oh my word, does it hurt terribly?”

“It’s not pleasant, but it’s not too bad.”

I frowned down at it. It didn’t look very good. “Is it broken? How long do you have to stay off of it?”

She winced, and I picked up on a deep-seated worry. “Yeah. Six weeks. At least I don’t need surgery. I’ll barely afford this.”

She could afford it because I’d pay the bill before I left tonight. I patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about that.”

Her eyes went wider as she realized what I meant. “No, I can’t–”

“You can and you will,” I insisted.

“Thank you. I’ll repay you somehow. I promise. Just as soon as I’m back on my feet. Literally. I don’t know how I’ll make it six weeks with one leg.” She shook her head.

Next to her, Louise grinned. “Well, I know just how that’s going to happen, sugar. And it’s going to be so simple.”

I glanced at my current wife, wondering what idea had formed in her brain. I could hire a nurse to help Eve, maybe that’s what she had in mind. But when she opened her mouth and said it, my mind exploded.

“You’re going to move in with us. Spencer and I will take care of you.” The grin on her face broadened as my eyes went wide.

Eve’s did the same. She shot me a fleeting glance before she refocused on Louise. “Lou, I don’t think–”

“Shhh, stop your bellyaching, I won’t hear it.”

“I’m not…complaining,” Eve answered, her voice almost pleading, “I just…Louise, I think this is too much of an imposition?”

“Imposition?” Louise gave her a dismissive wave before she grabbed her hand. “Darlin’, it’s hardly an imposition. First, you need the help. You can’t be in that apartment all by yourself on crutches, trying to cook for yourself. If you stay with us, you’ll have everything made for you and you can focus on your work.”

”But–“ Eve started before Louise cut her off.